"Stop!"
The servants responsible for the cremation paled at the mention of decapitation. While they had sold their labor to the Earl's Mansion, they certainly had no desire to die for it. Burning an item bestowed by the Emperor was a capital offense, and even if they had nine lives, they wouldn't dare. Several servants rushed forward to extinguish the flames, which had already consumed a third of the pyre.
Old Madame Si stood there in a panic, unable to think of a reason to stop them.
"Sister-in-law, as long as none of us speak of this, who would know we burned an item bestowed by the Emperor? Besides, the Emperor gave this to Brother, so he surely wouldn't ask for it back. The cremation is already half-finished; calling a halt now is inauspicious and will block Brother's path to the afterlife! You... all of you, don't stop! Keep burning!"
Finally, Xue Wanrou found an excuse and stepped forward to insist the cremation continue.
Old Madame Si had a moment of realization and nodded in agreement. "Yes, don't stop! Burn, keep burning! As long as we don't say anything, who would know that an imperial gift is inside?"
The servants froze, unsure of what to do.
Meng Yihuan clenched her fists, a flash of murderous intent crossing her eyes. This Xue Wanrou had always acted timid and humble in her presence, keeping a low profile, but now she had finally shown her true colors. She was indeed sharp-tongued; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to manipulate Si Yunhui and his mother into doing this for her.
However, they were destined to be disappointed today. Since she had returned, she would never let them off!
"Sister-in-law, that is most unfortunate. Just a few days ago, my mother announced that at her upcoming birthday banquet, she would display the sacred items bestowed upon my family, the Grand Tutor's Mansion, by the Imperial Court over the years. That includes the Qilin Jade Pendant I gifted my husband," Meng Yihuan said, turning back with a cold, hollow gaze.
"What? This... this..." Xue Wanrou was left speechless.
Meng Yihuan turned back to the servants and barked, "Put out the fire immediately, or you will all pay with your lives!"
The servants dared not delay. Old Madame Si and Xue Wanrou were left standing there, faces bitter, exchanging panicked glances.
As the flames died down, Meng Yihuan strode toward the "corpse" covered by the white sheet. Her eyes burned with hatred, while Old Madame Si and the others were like ants on a hot pan, frantically trying to figure out how to explain what was to come.
"Husband..." Meng Yihuan began with a feigned tone of grief before swiftly whipping away the sheet.
Sure enough!
There was no one inside. Beneath the white sheet lay nothing but a pile of dog bones and scattered scraps of clothing!
"Mother! Where is my husband's body? There is no one here!" Meng Yihuan shouted. She fixed a piercing glare on Old Madame Si and the others, waiting to see how they would defend themselves. Would they admit he wasn't dead, or...?
"This... what is going on? Where... where is he?" Old Madame Si was flustered, having no idea how to explain. She kept glancing at Xue Wanrou, hoping she would come up with an answer.
Xue Wanrou was equally terrified, her thin, delicate face turning pale.
"Could... could he have been stolen?" Xue Wanrou stammered, then feigned surprise.
Yes! That was it—he had been stolen! She absolutely could not let Meng Yihuan know that Huilang was alive; otherwise, she would never get to live a blissful life with him, traveling the world as they pleased.
"Stolen? Who would steal a dead body?" Meng Yihuan scoffed. Si Yunhui was neither made of gold nor was he the Tang Monk; who would steal his corpse? Xue Wanrou really was something else.
"I... I once heard a strange legend as a child. They say some people enjoy stealing corpses, especially those of handsome men. Brother was so handsome; a pervert must have taken a liking to him and stolen him away. That must be it, otherwise, how could the body just disappear?" Xue Wanrou continued to weave her lie.
Hearing this, Old Madame Si began to wail in cooperation. "Oh, the heaven-cursed thief! To even snatch my son's corpse, they truly have no conscience! Woe is me..."
Watching the two of them perform their little act, Meng Yihuan was so incensed she almost laughed. Very well. Since they insisted he was stolen, then stolen he was. Even if she had to dig three feet into the earth, she would find him. Or rather, she would find his corpse—the Si Yunhui who returned would be nothing but a dead man!
"Someone, go to the Court of Judicial Review at once! Report that the Earl's Mansion's heir has had his body stolen, along with items bestowed by the Emperor. Tell them the First Madam of the Earl's Mansion demands a full investigation of the entire city for the thief and the heir's remains!" Meng Yihuan commanded with a wave of her hand.
Old Madame Si and Xue Wanrou panicked, staring at her in disbelief. "Report... report to the authorities? Why would you report something like this? You cannot!"
How could they involve the authorities? What if his faked death was exposed?
"Mother, the heir's body has been stolen. Do we not intend to find it?" Meng Yihuan fixed her eyes on Old Madame Si.
Old Madame Si looked frantic. "But... but there is no need to involve the authorities. We can send our own people to... to look for him. No need for such a scene."
"Exactly, sister-in-law. Brother has already passed away, and a thief has no use for a body anyway. Without the corpse, we can simply erect a cenotaph for him. Once a person dies, the light goes out; there’s no need to obsess over a body. He can't come back to life, so let’s not involve the authorities," Xue Wanrou added.
Meng Yihuan looked at her sharply. "A moment ago, you were worried about affecting the Earl's path to the afterlife, and now you don't care about the body at all? Sister-in-law, your attitude is rather strange. However, even if you don't want the Earl's body back, the imperial gift I gave him has been stolen, and that is a major matter! This investigation is not just about the body, but about the stolen imperial treasure! The authorities must be notified!"